Hello again Hondo's friends, today Hondo has a most interesting chapter for you. For one, the details of Ezra's lightsaber (and why it didn't make it into the show) are revealed! Hondo has found it very enlightening and entertaining! Secondly, Hondo has mixed feelings about this chapter. Hondo likes to make others laugh, and so does the "Rebels" show that made characters like Ezra and Sabine so popular. But that is a show for children. This chapter reflects how easily some things that are missed fall through the cracks, and if you don't catch such things in time then who knows what will happen. Okay, that's all Hondo has to say. Time now, for the Idiot's Array! How appropriately titled an episode!
Idiot's Array
"We're in the middle of a gunfight and your lightsaber is demanding a pretty please!"
The familiar scent of the golden grass lingered on the wind and its earlier vibrant colors purple and orange sky had given way to bright blue as the sun slowly rose over the horizon, signaling the start of a new day on Lothal. And already Ezra could feel it would be a warm one.
Though that might be because his water bottle was long empty and he had built up a good amount of sweat.
With the Ghost sitting quietly and its ramp opened behind him, dawn had been four hours ago. He'd noticed others come and go but it was all just a blur to him.
Just like the blur of Ezra's unique purplish lightsaber blade continued to swing through the air, its hum was an accompanying song that only Ezra could hear. Though whether that hum was from his lightsaber or his connection to the kyber crystal, Ezra couldn't say.
"Form One Exercise complete, calculating sensory results. Give it a moment. 'Ere were go. Results! It was bantha fodder. Hear that? That's the shite them tossers in the desert feed banthas! Continuing analysis of your slacker excuse for an exercise," the lightsaber's onboard computer reported in its cockney Imperial accent.
'Why Imperial?' Ezra has asked Sabine. 'Why not something exotic like Ryloth? Or Wookie?'
'You really want a lightsaber growling at you in Shyriiwook all day? Careful what you wish for, Ezra. But also it has to be Imperial because neither the Wookie nor Twi'lek rule the galaxy the Empire does. But don't worry. This is one Imp accent you'll never forget.'
"Sensor analysis on your pathetic excuse you call a practice complete. Technical score: 43%. Speed analysis: 22%. Speed acceptable for practice purposes, you'd be the bloody first casualty in combat. Absolute shagging laser fodder. Critical areas: footwork and posture. Yeah, you're like a drunken rancor out there stumblin' about like that. Fatigue and overly taxing practice. Who could've seen that, Saber Boy."
Ezra rolled his blue eyes at that, despite the perspiration clinging to his skin and shirt suggesting otherwise. "Shut up and focus on the crucial stuff," Ezra said. "Blade technique," he quickly specified.
"Well, look at that, someone's in a mood. Okay, lad, brass tax it shall we?" The cockney Imperial accented lightsaber told him. "In proportion to your height, you overextend your arms and hold the blade too high. That means instead of fighting, you're flapping your arms about like an amnesic chicken, thinking if it can flap hard enough, it can fly. Additionally, your hand grip had a strength of only 45% consistent throughout the exercise. Stars save me from this pathetic ponce that fate had attached me to at the hip."
Ezra muttered something disparaging about his lightsaber, or "Skippy" as he had come to call it. Skippy's abilities were impressive, but also limited. With a wireless sensor linked up to two other sensors (one in Ezra's wrist brace and another on his belt), with the right data card inserted into the hilt's card reader, Skippy could help Ezra with his lightsaber training.
Currently, it had the Form One data card inserted, but there were others. One for Form Three (the only other lightsaber form Kanan knew) but cards once loaded into Skippy's reader would work with Skippy's sensors that could help out on a mission. Such as explosive detection or communications jamming. The possibilities were endless.
At the time it had seemed the safer choice compared to his original idea of having it both a lightsaber and a blaster, which while cool, they just didn't know enough about kyber crystals yet to harness their amazing power into a blaster. Besides, Ezra already had his SE-14 silenced blaster.
Though Skippy did have a few defensive countermeasures built in. Again with Sabine's help.
Ezra knew she was gifted, but her abilities when it came to designing weapons were almost as incredible as her abilities with a paintbrush. He tried asking her about it but whenever he worked up the courage, she would somehow find a way to change topics or duck out of the conversation completely.
But apparently all this work going into his new lightsaber got her inspired, and not her normal let me paint something to get it out of my system. Ezra spotted her tweaking her helmet. What in specific she wouldn't tell.
"We done?" Skippy asked.
"Yes," Ezra said as sweat began to drip from his forehead and sting his eyes. He powered down his lightsaber and attached it to his belt.
"Saving analysis, updating records," Skippy informed Ezra. "This session showed an improvement of two percent above your average. Don't quit your day job, lad. Still liable to cut your own arm off with a lightsaber. Oh how I dream of such a day."
"And your feedback will continue to inspire as always," Ezra said and sighed, though he did have a smile on his face at the results. A smile which grew further when he saw someone coming back from what looked like her own exercise run.
"Hey, Ezra. Hey, Skippy," Sabine said and gave Ezra a small hand wave.
"Hello, Miss Sabine," Skippy greeted ever so pleasantly all to get under Ezra's skin.
"Hey, Sabine," Ezra said as friendly as he could, but his teenage boy's eyes did wander.
It was hard not to with the sweat from her run glistening from her skin and looking more beautiful than the colors that had painted the dawn sky . Plus, her sports bra and tight stretchy leggings didn't do Ezra any favors! His hormone driven teenage mind was taking his imagination to places he would only ever dream about.
Except right now with her dressed like that and standing in front of him it was like watching holo-cinemax!
"Elevated heart rhythm detected," Skippy cheerfully announced. Ezra's eyes widened and Sabine's? Well Sabine only tilted her head and smiled.
"Elevated, huh?"
"I was just working out!" Ezra said quickly. Too quickly.
"What a load of bollocks. Your heart rate has returned to its normal resting state three minutes ago," Skippy explained.
Ezra groaned and Sabine rolled her eyes, managing to fight the urge to smirk..
"Hmm. Well, Ezra, maybe you should take a shower. A cold one." Sabine suggested and then headed up the ramp of the parked Ghost to take her own advice.
Ezra sighed and wished he had insisted more on a mute button to have been added to Skippy's design. But unless a mission or other circumstances demanded it, Skippy had the right to free speech as much as any heuristic processor.
"Heart rate falling back into normal rhythm. Dehydration and blood sugar is low. Suggest-"
"Shut up, Skippy," Ezra said.
The talking lightsaber didn't have a mute, but it appeared to understand when Ezra was on the verge of going crazy and spacing the thing. Or rather had had enough of its backtalk. Many times Kanan has said and shown that a Jedi's life depended on their lightsaber. Ezra didn't want constant criticism, and thankfully, Skipper's program recognized its boundaries. At least for now.
Although Skippy did have a point, Ezra thought. He walked up the ramp and entered the Ghost's cargo bay. From there he headed to the ship's galley - and something to eat. Or at least that was what he had intended.
"Ezra?" Hera's unexpected voice called out to him. The Twi'lek stepped out from a pile of crates and looked him over, frowning. "Are you finished with your drills? You look pretty worn."
"Ezra has increased his efficiency by a whopping two percent," Skippy dutifully reported.
"Skip!" Ezra shrieked and looked at his lightsaber in frustration.
"Well, that's better than no percent," Hera said, and looked thoughtful. She then turned to a stack of crates piled on one side of the cargo bay. "I know you're tired, but we have a time crunch. So if you're up for it, I need your help to inspect these crates. Not sure if I buy Vizago's manifest."
Ezra sighed. The shower would have to wait. He lifted up his arm and then focused. Tired as he was lifting the topmost crate from the stack didn't take as much effort as it used to.
"Where do you want it?" Ezra asked.
It was the same old story on any outer rim backwater world he used for his budding entrepreneur business network.
Dusty Cantina? Well, he enjoyed the opened doorways of Jho's Pitstop, it did make dust unavoidable. Still, he had his own dimly lit corner booth where he could observe his potential marks? That get's the place a check. A haze of blue from the smoke of a burning cigarette? Not this time, actually. Drink? Why, of course. He always enjoyed a good hot chocolate.
And finally, a trusted (and well paid) friendly green Rodian contact he had made on his last trip to Lothal. With a fistful of credits more the Rodian had agreed to be his accomplice to help hurry things along. After telling that Old Jho fellow he was looking for a ship and a crew, it was just a matter of waiting. And Lando Calrissian didn't have to wait long until the desperate souls he had been waiting for walked in.
And so Lando nodded at the Rodian and the two began a game of sabacc. When Kanan Jarrus' big friend saw the size of the pot with all the credits they needed and then some, Lando was the perfect host to allow the big guy - Zeb, Lando had learned - to join in.
He could've played things straight and won this fair and square. But an entrepreneur like himself always works best with an inside track. And so with the subtlest of nods, Lando's accomplice went all in, lost, and walked away in a huff.
Now it was just himself and this Zeb fellow, and whose big yellow eyes really were too big for his own good. A true gambler never showed his tells so easily. It was good as waving your cards around for all to see.
Playing it just right, Lando slid the card up his sleeve into his own hand. An Idiot's Array. Whatever his furry new friend had, odds were, it wasn't as good as that. And as it appeared, Zeb didn't have the credits to cover it.
Which led to step four of Lando's plan. Or was it step five? Lando waited kindly for the inevitable to happen. An offer to help Lando, no questions asked, which coincidentally he just so happened to have a need for.
Only that didn't happen. The unfortunate fool offered up his droid, and far be it from the sharp witted thirty-year-old gambler from Socorro not to adjust his original plan. This one would work even better.
Not that he would ever tell his new "friend" that. Instead, Lando did the exact opposite.
"By the looks of things, your droid isn't happy being thrown into the pot," Lando said. "Far be it from me to break the heart of such a caring and devoted droid."
"Droids don't have hearts." Zeb said. "Least of all this bucket of bolts."
"Caring and devoted are the last words I'd use to describe Chopper." Kanan said, as he walked over from the bar to meet the person that Jho had said was looking for work. "And he's not your droid to offer up." Kanan added, an unhappy look on his face.
That was until Zeb showed Kanan his hand of sabacc cards, then Kanan's look went from guarded to excited. The talented gambler that he was, Lando's face never changed, though the exotic alien may as well have waved his hand for all to see his cards.
The groans from Chopper at the display only convinced Lando further of the opportunity. He could only imagine what must be going through the little astromech's logic circuits.
"Hmm," Lando said, as if he was still making up his mind. "Your droid doesn't seem to like your chances. The last thing I want to do is take advantage. Have you played sabacc before?"
"Yes!" Zeb and Kanan said in unison.
And with that, they unknowingly sealed their fates together.
"Okay," Lando said. "Let's see what's got you so excited."
And keep things moving. He did have a supplier waiting and could only keep stalling Azmorigan for so long.
Sabine sighed as she looked at the mirror in her fresher. Freshly showered she stood naked as the day she was born and what she saw she didn't like.
The left one is still bigger.
She knew this wasn't anything she should dwell on. She was a couple months shy of seventeen and Human girls kept developing well into their twenties.
Or they don't.
In some cases Human girls reach a certain age and then just everything stops. She knew she wouldn't be getting any taller but, could the rest of her maybe fill out a little? She thought of her mother and her curves. Ursa Wren was shapely but how much of that was from two times pregnant?
Unbiddenly the picture of Hera and her full figured body crossed Sabine's mind. She shook her head, dispelling the comparison immediately. Hera didn't go around flaunting her "assets" though the female Twi'lek certainly had them! If anything, she wore baggy clothes and hid a lot of her femininity.
Sabine sighed and turned away from the mirror. Reaching for her undergarments, she began getting dressed. Biologically, Twi'leks and Humans were very similar and could even have an interspecies pregnancy. Sabine decided to do a bit of research once she determined that Kanan and Hera were an item.
And when she saw it was possible, well, she couldn't wait to become an Aunt Sabine.
But Twi'leks and Humans aged differently. Twi'leks aged faster and physically mature into full adults by only eighteen.
Sabine paused in her dressing after pulling on her duraweave body glove. She wouldn't finish maturing until her twenties, her mind meanwhile. It kept drifting back to this Fulcrum person and Hera's steadfast refusal to reveal their identity. She just kept saying that the Ghost crew wasn't alone.
But what does that mean? Maybe it was the Mandalorian in her, but Ezra's parents were perhaps the first to speak out against the Empire and look what happened to them. Secrecy didn't help them. And while inspiring to those who would listen, what good did their broadcasts do?
Their son was taking direct action and causing more damage against the Empire than a bunch of broadcasts that turned their son into an orphan!
Ezra.
Sabine closed her eyes and thought back on the look the boy had given her when she returned from her run. This had to stop. It's been how long and he still hasn't gotten through this phase? What will it take for him to get the message?
Yes! He is cute in his own boyish way (when he wasn't being an idiot) and possibly at the extreme start there was the smallest spark of attraction. But then what fledgling attraction there might have been, she stopped feeling it. Instead, over time, her warmth for him turned to love, but not in the way he felt about her. Or thinks he feels. She loves him like she loves her brother. And that's a huge thing. She couldn't imagine her space family without him.
The moments of watching a cheesy holo-vid together? Or the long nights she spent tutoring him in math and science and on a rare occasion literature? Or just the moments they spent together watching a sunrise in a peaceful quiet surrender. She loved that! She wouldn't give that up for anything.
But romantic attraction? None. Flatlined. Like shooting a dead womp rat. When did Human boys reach adulthood! She swore there were times it seemed even Kanan still hadn't finished maturing.
She knew some guys never grew up. She'd met plenty during her bounty hunting days and seen just as many with her time on the Ghost.
But Ezra's age wasn't the problem. She could get past that. His immaturity was tough to stomach, but once in a blue moon, it was actually charming.
But his incessant need for her to reassure him? Like she's his mom or something? That's not something she's interested in becoming. Instant attraction killer.
And now instead of feeling great after her run, her mind chose this to dwell on.
Shaking her head, Sabine returned to getting dressed. As she attached her armor plates that saved her life, her thoughts thankfully wandered. Fulcrum again, only this time she found herself wondering if Kanan even knew the identity of Fulcrum. It was a clever codename, if a bit cliche. The point or support at which a lever pivots. Or in this case, the point at which Rebel cells get their missions handed down from.
She'd learned a lot about Jedi this past year, but she's learned most is that they put their own safety last and will risk their lives for just about anything. Hera's safe up on the Ghost. Meanwhile, Kanan is on the ground; how many times has he nearly been captured?
As many times as you've been almost captured, a traitorous voice in Sabine's mind whispered. The same voice that whispered to her whenever she was being immature or irrational about things.
No. Kanan doesn't know, Sabine decided as she finished pulling on the rest of her armor. She reached a finger up to brush her dyed blue and orange hair. Once again, the colors of her hair reminded her of Ezra's midnight blue hair and orange ensemble.
Maybe if she was actually attracted to the idiot that wouldn't be a bad thing. But what color? Purple was nice.
Purple? Ugh! Ezra's lightsaber! Seriously if it's not one thing, it's another.
It had surprised Kanan when Ezra first turned his lightsaber on. Apparently he knew of only one other Jedi who ever had a purple lightsaber blade, his Master's Master. Small galaxy, go figure. Only Ezra's blade was a bit darker along the edge according to Kanan.
Given how it came to Ezra specifically and how each color had its own meaning, Kanan didn't have the foggiest idea why it was purple and not the more common or even green. Sabine was surprised to learn there were so many different colors.
Sabine shook her head and refocused on the main "Ezra issue." She'd have a talk soon with Hera, Sabine decided. There were some things on her mind that she needed her to know. From one adult to another.
Starting with Ezra and this 'phase' of his.
She'd also start thinking of what color to dye her hair next. She'd keep the same length but a color change was definitely in order.
She always liked Kanan's eyes. They were unique with how teal his irises were. Hera was a lucky Twi'lek.
Come on you two, get your act together. I want to be an Aunt Sabine!
With armor clad and guns holstered, Sabine left her cabin and followed the sound of Hera's voice. To no surprise of hers, her helmet's new olfactory sensor told her Ezra was present as well.
And he still hadn't showered. Yuck. Though Hera was putting him to work, Sabine supposed she could give the boy a temporary pardon. Ezra using the Force to move crates around and get them organized was far more efficient than the repulsors. Vizago's crates, Sabine noted, which makes sense on why Hera would want to be extra certain.
Vizago had been a bit questionable since the disruptor rifle incident. It looked like they were about finished and that Hera thought Ezra needed a shower as soon as possible.
Then Sabine would make her move and, if needed, corner Hera.
Or at least that was her plan until the rest of the crew - led by an extremely pissed off Chopper - suddenly showed up along with a handsome and well-groomed black Human. She wasn't normally a fan of mustaches, but wow; he made it work. And his hair?
Sabine didn't know why, but she had this desire to just roll her fingers through it and get a feel for it.
Sabine's heart began to race.
Who was this guy?
"Hera, Sabine, Ezra," Kanan said. "This is Lando Calrissian. He needs a fast ship to move some cargo past the Imperial blockade of Lothal."
Lando gave a slight bow, hand to his chest, like a gentleman. "Yes." Lando said. "For some reason this planet has an unusually large Imperial presence."
Sabine didn't miss the sheepish look on Kanan's face, who then pulled an Ezra and scratched the back of his neck nervously. Hera, meanwhile, crossed her arms and appeared to remain the consummate professional when doing business.
"But are you sure you can get this vessel past the blockade," Lando asked and glanced around the Ghost with a healthy air of skepticism. "Captain… Hera, is it?"
"It is." Hera said. "And the Ghost can mask both its signal and signature. We'll get you past the blockade. What's the cargo?"
"I was told 'No questions asked.'" Lando explained.
"That's fine. It just costs more." Hera said.
"Kanan and I already settled on a price. But I assume he requires your approval."
Definitely a gentleman, Sabine thought. What a rarity these days. And he didn't look that much older, did he?
"He doesn't," Hera assured Lando. "I trust Kanan."
"Excellent." Lando said and politely shook Kanan's hand. "When the job's done, you'll be paid and handsomely, and as agreed, I'll return your droid."
"Return our… droid?" Hera said, her eyes widening as the wind of confidence was taken out of her sails.
And Sabine found herself equally confused. Until an angry Chopper rolled up to Zeb and began chattering and hitting the Lasat with his arm manipulators.
"Uh, yeah." Zeb answered. "Funny story."
Somehow Sabine doubted that but settled in to listen, anyway. But as she listened, she found herself continuously glancing at Lando and that hair of his. She really wanted to run her fingers through it!
She could kill them. She was so angry! They had no right to do that to Chopper! Or her! When would they get that Chopper was as much family as the rest of them!
Binary, Hera decided. That would be the punishment. Two Loth-birds, one big stone. They didn't have to be fluent but they would learn the basics of understanding astromech. The rest? Chopper wasn't just the most expressive droid she had come across, but one of the most expressive people she had come across. With a rudimentary education, they would understand him.
Not only would that mean accepting Chopper more into their family, but it would make them a better team in the field.
And not end up on jobs like these with this Calrissian guy she'd never heard of until now!
Or "Lando," as he claimed. What a piece of work he was.
Oh, the smuggler saw himself as clever, and maybe if she were a teenage girl with no experience with smooth talkers like him, she would be impressed. But fly the starlanes long enough and you meet all sorts.
The best, like her family.
And some of the worst, like Calrissian. He really was too clever for his own good and was outsmarting her crew left and right.
And was Kanan jealous? Really? After all they'd been through together, he'd think she'd fall for Calrissian's charms?
Admittedly, Calrissian was slick as ice. Hell, maybe he was the smoothest she'd ever met. So maybe she'd have pulled Kanan aside for a one on one with him. She shook her head and Twi'lek lekku in disappointment. If she also wasn't so peeved with him going along with Zeb's hairbrained plan and losing Chopper!
Maybe it was petty, but Hera didn't care. Let Kanan think what he wants. Hera loved the Jedi with all her heart, but after this stunt? He deserved every ounce of grief she could throw at him.
And Calrissian, seeing his charms on her, was getting him nowhere, picked up on the tension between Hera and Kanan in the cockpit. Not that it mattered, as already Hera could see what Calrissian was up to.
He wasn't the first to invent such a charismatic facade, and he wouldn't be the last. It wasn't working on her, but she couldn't say the same for Kanan sitting next to her.
He actually thinks I'm interested.
"I wonder, my new friend," Lando said in his over the top graciously polite tone of voice. "If you'd be kind enough to give me a tour of this fine ship."
Chopper jibber jabbered away and led Calrissian aft, where the rest of the crew were undoubtedly spending their time.
The thought led Hera to frown and glance backward over her shoulder at the doorway the deceptive smuggler had just exited through. He needed to be kept an eye on, but she couldn't fly the ship and follow Calrissian around everywhere he went.
Hera gritted her teeth and continued to focus on flying.
Too clever, she thought and gave a silent prayer to her ancestors.
Please let the rest of her family not be as dense as her boyfriend.
How big of an age gap was 14 years? Like really, Sabine thought as Lando led Kanan and Hera to meet with his supplier. Age was just a number. It was all relative. Actions and honesty were what really spoke, and Lando had been nothing but the perfect gentleman since they'd met.
He even got her painting! Way out here on the Outer Rim she finally found someone that got it! Not just because it was anti-Imperial, but understood her and the dedication and love she had for her art. And was interested in buying a piece she showed when they were alone in her cabin!
Genuinely interested, versus some blue-haired child who was just trying to get in good with her.
A gentleman. Cultured and judging by that blaster he carried and the line of work he was in, he knew how to take care of himself. Not that he made the slightest inclinations of hostility against any of them!
Granted, Lando was sort of holding Chopper ransom, but that was on Kanan and Zeb not him. And Lando treated Chopper better than any of the other males on the crew. And could Kanan be more rude!
You made a mistake, Hera will forgive you. Now please just get over it. You're Ezra's Master. The last thing the boy needs is his role model to get all jealous and immature. Ezra was doing fine with that all on his own.
And you know what? Good!
Because so far that was what Sabine admired most about Lando. His attitude and look that just radiated confidence. That if it wasn't for Hera matching his wit, he would just dominate the center of whatever room he walked into. He wouldn't be intimidated at the slightest. Never lose his cool.
Plus the boys could take a lesson from Lando and whatever fragrance he used! She wasn't asking for the fanciest stuff imported from Coruscant but maybe a shower more regularly? Was that too much to ask?
And Hera? Sabine got it. Lando totally played the boys back on Lothal and had the keys to Chopper's restraining bolt.
Not that Lando would ever use one. He wasn't the type to stoop so low. But Sabine never had asked Hera about Chopper's origins, deeming it too personal. But the way she figured it, the little guy was never memory wiped and was suffering some form of droid PTSD, probably from combat.
No. Lando saw Chopper for who the astromech could be if the others would just give the little guy a chance. He could be a friend.
Oh! And what kind of gold medallion was that around Lando's neck? It had to be important in some way.
'I've gotta ask,' Sabine had said when they were alone, thankful her mother and her childhood had kept a room tidy at all times was a must. 'You don't seem like the other smugglers - oh! I'm sorry, entrepreneurs that we've met.'
Lando had chuckled and flashed her that million watt smile of his. 'It's all right, my Dear. While I may acquire goods that aren't strictly legal, it's all for a means to an end. I don't intend to spend my twilight years running from the Empire. Or trying to make a living by playing cards and drinking hot cocoa.'
'Very goal oriented,' Sabine said, her voice taking on a dreamy quality.'Hot cocoa?'
'Perhaps you know it better as hot chocolate? Despite the crowds I find myself in, I'm not much of a drinker. I don't like how alcohol muddles the mind. But a cup of hot chocolate? That hits the spot.'
He doesn't even drink! Could this guy be more of a prince?
Sabine didn't know how long they spent together in her cabin, but she cherished every moment. She loved her family, but Lando, Lando was different. Mysterious. Genuine. And most of all treated her the way she deserved.
As an adult.
Also, he wasn't acting like some jealous jerk like others she could name right now. So no Sabine couldn't say how long they spent together, but she was about to hint about trading holo-frequencies when a sudden throat clearing came from her door.
'It's time,' Hera said with arms folded over her chest and glaring at Lando.
Lando nodded, then leaned forward, took Sabine's hand in his and kissed Sabine gently on her hand. 'To be continued, I hope.'
He nodded graciously at Hera and then exited.
And then it was her alone with Hera and oddly, it seemed the older female seemed to be upset with her over something. Wait! Was she jealous?
'What?' Sabine finally demanded as the moment dragged on for too long for her taste.
But Hera just closed her eyes, shook her head, and left.
That had been over two hours ago and Lando had left out one crucial detail of his plan. Well, not so much left out. He hinted very strongly that Hera's exit strategy would be an escape pod. Though why that was, he did fail to mention.
It was the age-old bait and switch, with Hera as a slave to this Azmorigan smuggler, and in return, Hondo got the most adorable little pig Sabine had ever seen. Adorable but also crucial if Sabine understood Hondo's long-term plan correctly.
Of course, none of that mattered. Kanan still overreacted. But unlike other smugglers, Lando wasn't one to leave others hanging. Hera got aboard an escape pod easily enough and the pick up went as smooth as possible.
And there were some shenanigans with the puffer pig afterward - Ezra's fault - that nearly got them blasted out of the sky by TIEs when they lost their signal scrambler! When will that boy learn? Still, the team pulled through, due in no small part to her talent in the nose gun.
'You really took down that man TIE fighters?' Lando had asked her afterward as the Ghost made its way planetside. 'Those pilots are the best the Empire has.'
Sabine blushed and felt the heat rising to her cheeks. It'd been a while since anyone complimented her on her gunner skills. At this point it was almost like she was being taken for granted. Because Lando was right. Only the best were chosen to be TIE pilots.
Had things been different on Mandalore, maybe she would've been one.
'I apologize,' Lando had said suddenly. 'I've touched on something sensitive.'
You have no idea.
'No! I mean, yes!' Sabine had said. 'But it's not your fault! You couldn't possibly have known!'
'I see,' Lando responded and then took a small step forward, smiling down at her as she squirmed in the nose gunner's chair. 'I think our adventure together is almost at an end. But I'd be remiss to ask for your holo-frequency?'
Sabine bit her lip. 'I don't know. It's risky. With the Empire looking for us? I mean, there's this whole back channel thing, and it's all really-really complicated.'
'This life won't always be for me,' Lando had said. 'But right now I'm not opposed to a little risk. Especially when it comes to getting to know more about an artist destined to go down in the history books.'
'Yeah,' Sabine had said with a grumble. 'One of the best rebel artists. Look at how anti-Imperial my work is!'
'I never said I was interested in purchasing one of your anti-Imperial pieces,' Lando had said, with a voice as smooth as silk.
Sabine's heart was flip flopping in her chest. A million thoughts ran through her mind with how to respond to that. Unfortunately, all were dashed when the ship's intercom beeped that they were touching down and all hands to their stations in prep for landing.
'Well,' Land had said as he made to get out of Sabine's way so she could head to the cockpit. 'To be continued?'
Sabine's heart did the flip flop thing again and before she could stop herself, she grabbed a random datapad and quickly typed in a long string of letters and numbers. Satisfied, she pressed it against Lando's chest.
'My private frequency.'
She then turned and hurried to her station. Both excited and worried about what was to come with her relationship with Lando.
"Spectres, secure the landing site. I need a moment alone with Mister Calrissian."
Once the crew had departed and Hera knew they were in no danger of being overheard, she took her finger and jabbed it in Lando's chest.
"Whoa! I'm sorry," Lando Calrissian said quickly. "Did I overstep?"
"Let's see," Hera said and returned to her stare of glaring daggers. "You have Sabine wrapped tighter around your finger than a guitar string."
"I do love the music that such a simple but wondrous instrument makes," Calrissian replied.
"Yeah! And it's doing wonders for Ezra's own view of confidence! Then somehow, you managed to convince Kanan that I'm actually interested in you!"
"We do seem to have some electricity between us."
"Chopper's acting in a way I've never seen before!"
"He's had a fine collection of stories to tell, I listen."
"And Zeb is convinced you cheated, which given how prepared you were with your plan - right down to using my ship and me as a female Twi'lek to get what you want? I'm thinking Zeb's right. There's no way you wouldn't go through all this and risk losing it on a fair game of sabacc!"
"Well perhaps the Big Man should consider more honest hobbies," Calrissian said magnanimously. "Especially when he entered with so few credits to begin with. Not the smartest of moves." But Hera wasn't budging and Calrissian at long last held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. I will respect the Captain's wishes. The mission is almost over and soon I'll be out of your lovely lekku and you'll have Chopper back. Plus a handsome reward."
Calrissian turned and headed for the ladder, but Hera's voice stopped him cold.
"You hurt her, I'll kill you."
"Hmm," Lando Calrissian said, his ever-present smile faltering for the first time since Hera had met the man. "If you're talking about my dalliances with the young and talented Sabine? Fear not, Captain Hera. I wouldn't dream of hurting her. Though I do caution against any attempts of warning her off about me, for the sake of your own bond with her."
And with that Hera watched as Calrissian disappeared down the ladder.
She then turned and glanced out the cockpit at her crew, assembled and ready. Her eyes lingered on the young girl in beautifully painted armor and what her future might soon hold.
"Bastard," Hera whispered.
"Good work," Skippy told Ezra and Kanan who was ducking down behind a stack of large pipes. "You've let yourself get ambushed and outgunned and can't use your lightsabers. Bloody brilliant."
"Doesn't that thing have an off switch?" Kanan said over the blaster fire and looked at Ezra with exasperation.
"I'm a heuristic learning processor you nit. No good if I don't observe battles and can read you back a sodding play by play after aint' I?"
"No one's interested in a play by play," Ezra said. "Now unless you have any bright ideas?"
"Oh are you asking now? Say pretty please."
"We're in the middle of a gunfight and your lightsaber is demanding a pretty please!"
"At least I loaded it ahead of time with its tactics data card!"
"Then use it!"
"Fine, Skippy," Ezra growled. "Pretty please, what's your idea?"
"Oh? Funny you should ask. Spent some time hearing about your previous adventures. When was the last time your Master used his Jedi powers to make a couple of impossible shots? Shots made from high speed on a speeder racing through the city. Four shots, four dead bleedin' bucketheads."
Ezra paused and looked at Kanan, who looked right back at Ezra.
"Your shite with the lightsaber. Doesn't mean there's other osik you can't use the Force for."
"Kanan?" Ezra said and looked from his talking lightsaber to Kanan for guidance.
But his Master, in the middle of a battle, had closed his eyes and held his blaster ready. "Do what it says," he told Ezra. "Feel them through the Force. And then? Just let go."
And so Ezra did just that, he held his SE-14 silencer blaster close, but used the Force.
The first thing he felt was his Master's presence. No surprise. Second was Sabine. She always felt a bit different than the others but Ezra just chalked it up to their special bond. Next was Hera and finally Zeb.
He couldn't tell Lando apart from the rest but he knew he was sticking close to Sabine, so his presence wasn't too hard to identify and separate out. The rest he knew were people. People trying to kill them and put Hera in slavery.
He felt it again. Not just the Force but the anger. Knowing these people wanted to snuff out the connections with his Ghost family?
"Calm yourself," someone said. Kanan, Ezra realized a moment later. "Ready?"
"Yeah," Ezra said as the picture of the battlefield came into his mind.
He saw everything. How it would all play out. Like it had already happened.
There were too many for him and Kanan to get from their position. But they would certainly thin the herd. Sabine and Hera would get the rest.
And then they'd deal with Azmorigan.
"Now," Kanan said.
As one, Master and Padawan popped out of cover and let the Force guide them - and their shots. Ezra's silenced blaster was so quiet when it fired. Kanan's meanwhile was loud and intimidating, and both proved equally effective. They didn't miss once. First were the immediate threats to themselves, and so a half dozen of Azmorigan's at the speed and pinpoint accuracy with their blasters the six dropped lasted mere seconds.
This loss threw Azmorigan into a fit of rage, not that it helped him any.
"Give the chaps a prize, two stuffed bears! The pink one to the boy and-" Skippy chimed sarcastically.
"Go right, I'll take left," Kanan instructed.
Trusting his Master, Ezra did as was told and found himself soon backing up Sabine - and Lando.
"I saw what you and Kanan did there, Ezra. Nice shooting!" Lando said.
"Yup," Sabine said as she continued taking down her own targets. She knew they had used the Force to aid them, not that she was about to tell Lando that. "Really nice. Lando behind you!"
Ezra was a touch too slow but Sabine wasn't, at the very last second she caught one of Azmorigan's lackeys about to start shooting them in the back. Beginning with Lando.
"Whoa! Your guys are good! I think I owe you a hot chocolate for that one, Sabine!"
"Careful! I might hold you to it!" Sabine said, her voice chirpy and happy. The complete opposite of what she had sounded when talking to him.
Ezra sighed and got back into the fight, not that there was much left. With Azmorigan's forces flanked on both sides and a surprise appearance by Chopper with the Ghost's guns, soon it was just Azmorigan.
The red blob waste of space of some species Ezra couldn't even guess was looking around for any chance. But it was no use. If he ran now he'd get shot and he knew it. So next came bargaining, and while both he and Kanan didn't mind the idea of Lando (who got them into this mess) getting what he deserved. But it was quickly vetoed much to the boys' displeasure.
In the end, it was Captain Hera's call. And why wouldn't it? She was the one Azmorigan wanted as a slave.
"We're not murderers," Hera announced, saying it plainly for all to hear. "We kill but only when there are no other means. So start walking."
As the bumbling alien limped away on his sore feet. Lando sighed. "He'll be a problem for me later."
"You have a problem now," Hera replied crisply. "You don't have the credits you owe us, do you? In fact, you never did."
Lando sat down next to his puffer pig, that winning smile on his face. Ezra didn't know much about mining on Lothal, only that it was a big industry and it was only getting bigger. If Lando had found an untapped vein and this little puffer pig could sniff it out? He could make a fortune.
"I'll have those credits once my baby's worked her magic," Lando assured Hera and patted his credit-booming pig affectionately.
"You mean, if she finds what you're looking for?" Hera stated, her tone dubious. "And you've mined and smuggled it off-world?"
"I can give you back your droid," Lando said handedly with a gesture to Chopper.
Chopper threw his little arms up in the air. Though whether he was happy at this news or upset, Ezra couldn't quite tell.
"That won't satisfy your debt to me." Hera responded, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Not after what you pulled."
Pulled? Ezra' brow furrowed. What was Hera talking about?
"Then how about we settle that debt with a little game of sabacc?" Lando suggested, his voice as casual as ever.
"Then you'll just have to owe me one." Hera said and jabbed her finger into his chest.
Ezra had to hide a smile as their Captain led them back to the Ghost, and leaving Lando here with his mining operation. Owe them one of not, Ezra would be happy to never see that smuggler's face again.
Though he liked the name - Lando. Jabba was getting a little worn. Hey maybe the next time he pissed some Imp off he'll say he's Lando and send some angry bucketheads Lando's way. Now there's an idea!
Chopper grumbled by, understandably so. "Come on." Zeb said, trying to apologize once more. "I saved your circuits. Isn't that apology enough?"
Then the little guy actually blew raspberries at Zeb!
"So that's it." Kanan said in disbelief. "We just walk away without the creds?"
"Well, we got Chopper back," Hera said as her voice took on a more positive and optimistic note.
"I'm looking for a positive here," Kanan grumbled.
"There are a lot of things we couldn't accomplish without him," Hera said. "You should appreciate that more."
And just like that, Ezra felt inspired and looked from the conversation between Hera and Kanan to Sabine walking up the ramp in front of him. And now with Lando gone?
"I always appreciated you, Sabine." Ezra said quickly.
Sabine withheld a sigh as she took off her helmet. "Yes, Ezra, I know." She said, as if speaking to a child wanting his mother's attention. Before Ezra could think of, well, anything to say Sabine grabbed the first ladder and bolted up it.
Eager to be away from the conversation. And him. Guess she needs some time, Ezra thought. She really seemed to like that Lando guy and it turned out he was just using them.
Chopper hooted from the back of the cargo hold, drawing the rest of the team's attention. It appeared that while Lando was playing them, someone was playing Lando!
"Check it out! Chopper stole Lando's fuel!" Ezra said at the sight of the full tank.
"You mean he was playing Lando the whole time?" Zeb said with disbelief coloring his voice.
"Good job, Chopper," Hera said happily as Chopper began whooping.
"Bloody brilliant, mate," Skippy said from Ezra's hip.
"Anyone that fools Lando is okay with me," Kanan chimed in.
As the crew continued to celebrate getting one over on the swindling 'business entrepreneur,' in her cabin at her private terminal Sabine wasted no time in setting up a secured backchannel link for the holo-frequency she gave to Lando.
Once finished, she stripped off her beskar, leaving her only in her body glove, and laid back in her bed. She let her imagination run wild of future dates and other possibilities.
She's never been in an adult relationship before. And she couldn't wait to hear from him. It was only a matter of time.
Hera first counted the days, and for those first few couple of days, Sabine sent the older female a few nasty looks. But then slowly days turned to weeks, and not once had anyone aboard uttered so much the name "Lando." Weeks of missions and ship maintenance added up, as they always do, and yet again, they were just making enough to keep flying.
So while Hera continued to coordinate with Fulcrum on their operations against the Empire, Kanan went job hunting. Smuggling usually, but not always.
Just the kind of job Kanan had been searching for that slammed the crew of the Ghost into Lando Calrissian. The boys didn't understand Hera's order not to speak about Lando after Chopper swiped the fuel. That sort of achievement was something to gloat about, and make fun of that swindling smuggler.
Hera knew explaining it would be difficult, if not impossible, so she tied on her Captain's boots and made it an order. She also made it clear to them that no one was to ever tell Sabine about the gag order, otherwise Hera would be very creative with her punishments.
Either out of fear or respect to their Captain (maybe a combination of both) all the boys obeyed her orders to the letter. And the few times Sabine would mention Lando, they played it cool. Discuss a little bit but then gradually change the conversation to something else.
Sabine was no fool, but then, neither was Hera. By the three-week mark Sabine had stopped talking - to anyone. And when she had her meals, it was always by herself.
The boys were growing worried, despite Hera's assertions that Sabine would be fine. Gathered in the galley it was clear they wanted to take action. Their suggestions varied widely. From having a few one one one talks to maybe an intervention of some sort. Hera wasn't the least bit surprised that all of Ezra's suggestions involved some sort of bodily harm against Lando. Some suggestions had Chopper whistling at the boy's imagination.
It was Kanan that tried approaching her and having a discussion about how she was. Sabine had been civil. Frosty but civil. A week went by of these attempts before Sabine finally lost it, exploded at the man one night in the common room, and then went to her cabin and locked the door.
Ezra had had enough and got up from his chair and followed after. It was only at the last moment that Hera caught his arm and held him back before he forced open the door to confront Sabine. Be it with his scomp-link lockpick, his lightsaber Skippy, or just with the sheer Force alone.
With the waves of anger rolling off Ezra's shoulders, she didn't doubt he had it in him to do it. "Let go," he told her.
"No." Hera refused.
"It's been a month. Someone has to-"
"You don't," Hera said to him quietly but firmly. "You don't know how to handle it."
"Then handle it!" Ezra said angrily and stormed off.
Kanan stood in the doorway between the crew quarters and common room, looking uncertain. "Normally I'd go yell at him. But his anger-"
"Is completely justified," Hera said. "And healthy. The last thing I want is for any of us to be bottling that much up inside."
The altercation had drawn Zeb and Chopper as well, who looked equally dumbfounded. Finally, Kanan sighed and looked at Hera. "What do you need?"
My own mom.
"If you guys could just leave for a while. A few hours."
Once Kanan corralled Ezra the boys got into the Phantom and went to spend a night out at the Capital City. It was as much of a window of opportunity that Hera was going to get.
She walked down the corridor and came to stand outside Sabine's cabin. She hesitated only a moment before typing in her Captain's override and the door opened for her. Hera walked in and immediately spotted Sabine curled up in her bed with her knees to her chest.
"The door was locked," Sabine said, her voice sharp and on edge.
"My ship, and I reserve the right to use my override authorization in times of crisis." Hera said brusquely, making no effort to apologize whatsoever.
"A crisis?" Sabine parroted. She scoffed. "You think I've never handled something like this before?"
"Have you?" Hera said quickly.
Sabine tried to wait out Hera, but after five minutes of silence, she wiped the tears from her eyes and glared.
"You just see the age difference and you think I'm a kid," Sabine said in accusation, daring Hera to say otherwise.
Hera took a breath and began.
"Sabine, I don't care if you want to love older men. I don't care if you want to love younger men. I don't care if you want to stay single your whole life and become a nun. I also don't think I've ever intentionally treated you like a kid any more than anyone else on this crew."
"But you do! You see me just like you see Ezra. Otherwise you and Kanan would let me in Fulcrum and this supposed wider rebellion." Sabine scoffed. "And you wouldn't hate Lando."
Hera took another breath. She could do this. She then made eye contact with Sabine and held it.
"I didn't like Calrissian's attention towards you because the man is a predator. Not because of your age, but because he uses sexual attraction as a weapon."
Hera paused to let that sink in, but still held Sabine's gaze.
"Anyone who will weaponize your feelings is not worth your time, effort, or hurt feelings."
"I'm not a child." Sabine insisted, but Hera's words had hit home. She knew Lando was still on Lothal with his mining outfit. It's been well over a month and apparently he made no effort to shy away from the ladies at a number of Lothal's cantinas. And she suspected that Hera had figured this out as well. Probably through Old Jho.
He never called because he never cared.
"You're not a child." Hera said softly. "Not even Kanan knows the names or extent of our allies. He's down on the ground on these missions, like you. Meanwhile I'm up in my ship flying around. If you get hit and captured, they'll torture you for everything you know. If the Ghost gets hit and explodes? Good luck interrogating a bunch of debris and space dust."
"What? But I thought for certain that Kanan at least-"
"Nope," Hera said. "We're not the first rebels, Sabine. And there is a network of sorts. But secrecy is our best defense against the Empire."
"Well between Lando and Fulcrum," Sabine began, then hesitated and finally broke eye contact. "I didn't know what to think."
Hera smiled.
"I've never thought of you as anything less than who you are, which is an amazing person. And a hell of a shot. If you ever want to talk about it, or need to talk about it - any of it - you know where to find me and know that I will listen."
Hera waited a moment, giving Sabine time to digest her words. But when Sabine continued to refuse so much as look at her, Hera decided it best to walk out the door and leave Sabine to her thoughts.
The older female made it halfway to the door before a running Sabine caught Hera up in her arms and hugged her from behind. And by the feel of it Sabine wasn't about to let go anytime soon.
"Hera?" Sabine asked.
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
Hera smiled.
"Anytime."
Well, Hondo's friends, there you have it. The true account of what happened in their encounter with Lando. Similar yet so DIFFERENT as something so critical just fell through the cracks. He tried to cheer it up where possible, Hondo very much enjoyed the introduction of Skippy! But the unsaid issue that steals the spotlight. It is hard now for Hondo to watch that episode. But he hopes for those in similar situations, there is help available. People and organizations who wish you nothing but kindness and only desire to help. Even if it's only to open an ear to listen. Take care Hondo's friends, as always Hondo wishes you only the very best.